The Beatrice Area Solid Waste Agency has chosen Pruss Excavating, a Dodge, Nebraska-based construction company, to build a new landfill southwest of Beatrice.

The agency's board approved the company's bid, the only one received, which initially totaled $6.4 million but was negotiated down to $6.2 million. The project was originally estimated to cost $5.6 million, according to City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer.

The earthwork required for the new landfill's cells is expected to be completed by October 2025. Tempelmeyer noted that Pruss Excavating had previously worked on the existing landfill, where space is running out.

The new landfill will be located along Locust Road, south of the current facility. Earthwork could begin before the end of this year. However, the construction of a building and scale for the facility still needs to be bid.

The BASWA Board also approved a $610,000 agreement with Burns McDonnell for construction oversight of the new cells and entrance.